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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMT/WY Assn of RR Passengers MTWYarp br' DEDICATED TO PRESERVING, IMPROVING AND INCREASING R IL PASSENGER SERVICE IN MONTANA AND WYOMING. JUNE 2003 REPORT OF MEETINGS It is about time I reported on the meetings I have attended representing you. The Shelby meeting which was the annual meeting of the National Association of Railroad Passengers Region 8 and hosted by MT/WYarp. Barry Green, one of our members took notes and has sent me a report to long for this newsletter. Our recording secretary also took notes. I believe we had a good turnout of members from Washington and Oregon. We had some NARP members who do not belong to our state group in Montana attend as well as about six of us that belong plus some of the members of our group who first belonged, to WASHarp or AORTA. We had good speakers, and good food at a Montana price. ~heen I went home for a couple of days before traveling to Malta to catch the Empire Builder to Chicago and n the Capital Limited to Washington D C for a two plus days of meetings representing Montana and Wyoming as a Director of NARP. We had a steady stream of speakers from AMTRAK including the number two man Joe McHugh who is also the Vice President of Governmental Affairs; the Chief Mechanical Officer; the person in charge of Sales and Services, and the assistant to the Minority Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee (Hollings). During breaks and lunch I talked with other members that were present including the Chairman of the New Routes committee. This committee recommends new passenger routes based on need, interest, and potential revenue. He agreed that the need and potential revenue was in place, all we needed is the interest. The fact is we had over 14000 signatures on our petitions; we had about 120 people sign up and pay dues the first year. But since our project did not happen overnight, we have dropped in membership to about 20 dues payers, it looks like most do not want to fight, FIGHT, FIGHT and fight some more to get what we said we wanted. We need to be present at these meetings, to travel both states having meetings to keep the interest peeked. But this takes money. Or should we just roll over and give up? MyselfI don't consider myselfa loser. I work only on projects that I believe in, and I believe in this because I truly believe it is doable, as a lot of people around the country do also. It cost close to $1000 for the Washington D C trip. The next meeting will be in New Orleans in October, then hack to D C in May. Who is going to be there for us? I can not afford it. Who is going to travel Montana and Wyoming to tell our story? I can not afford it. So you tell me who or how we can pay someone!!! We have a good cause. We have a good and just cause. On our heading we have added our mission, which should show Montanans that we are not trying to get a line to replace the Builder. I have learned in these meeting, which I knew when we started, that because this is a strong political issue we need to be visible and be able to communicate with others around the country as well as our own states. To do this we have to be there, and to accomplish this is apparent. In this issue you will find oarticles that were published in a newspaper and our answer to them. Our answer got the attention of the United Transportation Union, who printed it in there monthly newsletter. I have other very good documents and speeches and a copy of a highly interesting Senate Bill. But they are very lengthy - one is 12 pages and the other 27. The speech is by Jim Coston of Chicago a former member of the Amtrak Reform Council. He reports on some things which should have been mentiofled tenyears ago: I ask you do you know what happened on September 15, 19537 What year did the following occur? --An increasing number of Americans understand the problem and the solution: They know that a superior form ofintercity transportation could be made widely available if the federal government would only provide more fimding for modem infrastructure. But the administration is obtuse and opaque. It doesn't get it. The president says any new infi'astmctur, be provided by lesser units of government and by private enterprise. Congress essentially goes along with the president in resisting the infrastructure program, Despite the demands of constituents for a federal solution to its travel problems, the solutions are stalled by powerful interest groups with many friends in Congress.- .... Our annual meeting is only a few months away. Where shall we hold it to get the best attendance? How many of you will attend? Is it worth traveling to some place to hold a meeting? I would like to hear from you and get your. opinions. I suggested going to Missoula or Helena. what is your pleasure? June 24, 2004 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Builder. NARP and MTWYarp are going to help celebrate this event. We are going to contact the County Superententant of each County along the Hi line and have a competition. The first will be for 7~' and 8th graders. The second will be for 9th and l0th graders. The contest for each group is to write an essay about AMTRAK - How does it effect the communities along the route? what is special about it for their community? What can they do as an individual to make sure the Builder keeps running? What can the community do to ensure that AMTRAK understands that the community wants the Builder to continue running? (As far as the last question is concerned it was suggested to us by the AMTRAK speaker in Shelby that service could improve if the train did not have to make two or three stops at communities along the route if the platforms were longer and either paved or cement). In Malta the train had to make three stops to board or let off passengers. This takes time. We want to have the fastest service as possible with out forfiting safety. The Empire Builder is one of two passenger trains that has an excellent on- time record. The Builder is on time about 90+% of the time. This is due to the cooperation of the freight railroad that owns the track - BNSF. The other passenger train is also on BNSF tracks. There are other passeager-trains-that4mvegood on-time records but not asg0od as these two: ~amd ~hereare~orrre~passenger 1 .~' trams that are poor in on-time performance. Back to the contest. We would then receive the winners of each county in both groups. We would have them ride the train and all meet in Havre and have a birthday celebration with cake etc. NARP would also like to provide, maybe, cakes at each stop for the passengers. (This was a suggestion and wasn't ruled out) One of the NARP members who restores passenger coaches is going to find a consist of old Empire Builder cars ~om the GN days, and have it travel the route that week, and yes pulled by a E unit. How many of you w'fll help? How many would travel to Havre or some point to take part in the celebration. More of this at our annual meeting. We know there is a two or three year moritorium given to AMTRAK by the administration when the last agreement of financial commitment for this year was granted and passed by Congress. So we have a least two years to get our act together to have people in Congress, AMTRAK, and NARP convinced that our route of ROCKIES UNLIMITED is a viable route and should be one of next routes to be implemented. With the implementation of a route ~om Dallas to Denver and then adding a route from Edmonton to either Great Falls or Helena from Shelby to meet the ROCKIES UNLIMITED would truly make a lot of people interested in a complete north/south route linking Canada, the United States and Mexico with rail passenger service. To do this we must start now to get our needs before those who make the decisions. Now one of the problems is between Great Falls and Helena is the fact ora break in the tracks in Wolf Creek Canyon, which has not been repaired by BNSF. It is estimated that 150 feet of track was destroyed. I do not remember just why, but I think it was related to a storm, not an accident. This issue is going to cost more as we planned to send this to some of the people who first signed ttp and have fallen off of the train. Maybe some w'fll want to come back and help. Maybe some had some problems of one thing or another, but we want them to know we are still fighting for the project we first started. If~ere are any others with some extra money who want to help with our cause please do not hesitate to extend l~t help soon. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. ARE YOU WITH US OR HAVE YOU LOST THE WILL TO FIGHT UNTIL THE TRAIN STARTS RUNNING ON THE TRACKS. 1N RESPONSE TO AN EDITORIAL IN MISSOULIAN One would hope that the chilly reception given the Bush administration's efforts to derail the national network of passenger train service (The Missoulian, 5/5/03) would prevail and that instead, the service would be allowed continue, improve and expand. paper's namesake city lost valuable passenger train service 24 years ago under a similarly misguided Carter administration move to "improve" Amtrak and "save" the system by pruning. To succeed, Amtrak needs to be properly funded to carry out its mission, i.e., to serve the nation with safe, energy efficient, environmentally benign and access~le passenger rail service. Your notion that we don't rely on the federal government for other modes is incorrect. Imagine flying without the air traffic control system, the most obvious example oftbe federal use of taxpayer dollars. More significant, though, is the federal government's role as banker to roads and highways, lavishly collecting and dispersing funds to both and requiting states to provide a match in formulas specific to the modes. Amtrak, as yet, cannot benefit fi.om such trust funds and mechanisms and is asked by unreasonable critics to "make a profit" when its need for funding so visibly and unavoidably appears in the news. Only with a system of stable funding will Amtrak be able to compete with and complement the heavily subsidized and entrenched roads and airways with which it should be so inter-modally serving travelers. Group backs expanded passenger rail service - (In UTU newspaper) MISSOULA, Mont. -- Amtrak is again under attack. Taxpayers spend $1 billion a year keeping the passenger mil service afloat, and it's become an easy target for critics, according to this report by Vince Devlin that appeared in The Missoulian. The Bush administration wants to change Amtrak into for-profit companies that leave it up to states to fund unprofitable lines if they want them; some politicians and editorial writers claim the railroad is the only form of transportation that is subsidized by the federal government. All of which gives the Montana/Wyo~ Association of Ralkoad Passengers something to do these days. Their es to establish Amtrak service between Spokane and Denver -- via cities such as Missoula. Billings and r ~- i~ onfibld, thanks to a t~,,0-3ear moratorium on new Amtrak passenger lines. But MWARP president James C. Green of Billings notes that his group's mission is not just to expand service, but to maintain it, too. Which is why Green was in Missoula on Tuesday, a week after a Missoulian editorial said Americans "don't rely on the federal government for other modes of transportation, and we shouldn't for rail service, either." Government subsidizes all kinds of transportation, fi.om the barge industry to airlines, Green said, and spends billions more on them than it does Amtrak. It builds highways for cars, trucks and buses, and airports for airlines. "They don't call them subsidies, but a rose is a rose is a rose," Green said. "Air traffic controllers are paid by the federal government. Amtrak dispatchers are paid by Amtrak. "We don't think people understand that all public transportation is subsidized in some way," Green went on. "Whether we're upgrading highways or airports or runways we spent $15 billion on the (Federal Aviation Administration), $33 billion on highways, we gave the airlines a $12 billion bailout after 9-11." Amtrak critics point out that money translates into tiny fiactions of a penny spent on each passenger mile traveled by airline customers and automobile drivers. Amtrak's $1 billion spends nearly 25 cents for every passenger mile traveled, according to goverrmaent figures. The Bush administration wants to end this by turning rail passenger service over to private companies -- which would take over potentially profitable lines -- and demanding individual states fund unprofitable lines they wanted to keep, but no one in the private sector took over. But what would happen to lines like the Empire Builder, which runs l~om Seattle to Minneapolis and crosses Montana's Hi-Line, Green wondered. What if Montana wanted to fund the service but one of the other states the Empire Builder crosses didn't? Public Citizen, a national nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded by Ralph Nader, predicts the Bush plan will turn the federal funds over to private contractors who are major contributors to the Republican party, who will then "cherry pick the most profitable routes," primarily in the Eastern corridor of l[United States. "Rail passenger service is just that -- a service. It should be run efficiently and safely for the d of the communities it serves," said Wenonah Hanter, director of Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Prograrm "It should not be held to a naked standard of profitability and then, for failing to attain an unrealistic goal, be thrown to corporate cannibals hungry for public subsidies and willing to put profits before people. Amtrak needs to be protected and strengthened, not gutted." Michael Ackley ofM~ssoula, wce premdent of the Montana/Wyoming Association, noted that June 29, 2004, will be the 75th anniversary of the Empire Bnilder, and said there is lots of support on the Hi-Line to keep it nnming. "Amtrak's spent 30 years concentrating on the Northeast corridor," Green said. "They've put no money into maintenance. But here's a $3.9 billion bill in :Congress to beef up Amtrak's in~astmctttre and make it run right. Amtrak has a new CEO (David Gunn) who's i cut their number of vice presidents from 84 down to 20. There's a whole change of attitude in the upper echelons ofAmtrak." But will Amtrak live to see MWARP restart its attempts to open the old "southern route," a Spokane to Denver line? Another group is pushing an Edmonton-to-Billings line. CPR'S CEO Says North American Governments Could Save Billions By Investing In i Public-Private Partnerships With Railroads i PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 19/PRNewswire-FirstCall/- It is time for North American governments to invest i more in the continent's rail infrastructure through public-private partnerstfips to address such major public-policy 'issues as border security, traffic congestion and air pollution, Rob Ritchie, President and Chief Executive Officer I of Canadian Pacific Railway, said here today. He said railroad public-private partnerships, or P3, can save shippers,the public and governments billions of dollars in return for relatively small investment, citing a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The report said public investment in f~eight railroads of $4 billion a year over a 20-year period would save shippers $401 billion, highway users $635 billion and highway costs of $27 billion. "Rail has solutions to some of the biggest i public-policy issues that our federal, state, provincial and local governments are grappling with today," Mr. Ritchie said in a speech to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's annual conference. "Big issues like: the traffic congestion that is plaguing our cities; the deterioration of our overburdened highways; post- 9/11 border security; ak pollution; and the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the North American economy." In the past decade alone the rail industry has invested over $100 billion to modernize itself.. Today, railroads move over 40 per cent of all freight shipped between cities in the U~S. However, he said "given the I ~projeciions roi edonomic~t~rifffreight-tonnage giowth, ~h6r~ fs als/) ~need for ~ level of ifiv~shn~t-thaYis ~eater than the railways are capable of funding on their own". Mr. Ritchie's P3 model calls for the public sector and the railways to jointly invest in projects that require government investment as a catalyst to provide services with public benefits. "I am saying that where there is a public benefit - like reducing road congestion and increasing i economic productivity - public participation is appropriate." Mr. Ritchie said there are many viable P3 proposals : already on the table that will give the rail industry the opportunity to do more for the North American economy. He said one example is the discussions between the railroad industry and the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois on a proposed $1.2-billion infrastructure project to speed freight and passengers to, through, and around Chicago. "If an agreement is reached, the freight railroads would pay for the benefits they receive and the public for the benefits it receives." Mr. Ritchie said the report by AASHTO, which represents highway and transportation departments in 50 states, the District of Colanabia and Puerto Rico, shows some policy makers appear to be coming around to his way of thinking. AASHTO said in its groundbreaking Freight-Rail Bottom Line Report that "relatively small public investments in the nation's freight railroads in the United States can be leveraged into relatively large public benefits for the nation's highway infrastructure, highway users, and freight shippers". Mr. Ritchie said he knows that many state governments are supportive of mil and he hopes rite AASHTO report will encourage them "to invest more in modernizing the rail infrastructure through P3s, just as they have funded the growth of our over-burdened highway systems. The time is right for P3." Canadian Pacific Railway, recognized internationally for its scheduled railway operations, is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the U.S. Its 14,000-mile rail network serves the principal centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest regions. CPR feeds directly into America's heartland from the East and West coasts. Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico. Build America ~nds ~11 provide $50 bill,on in new ~anspo~a~on ~nfrastructum ~ndinG. This o~e-~me fede~l p~ram w~ll empower states and I~1 governmen~ to complete significant infrast~uctu~ projects across all modes of ~anspo~fion including r~ds, rail, transit, avia~on and water. These funds will be in addition to current T~-21 dollam and will allow cash-s~ap~d s~tes to create millions of jobs, generate sign~n/economic gm.h, improve ~eir tmnspo~tion infras~cture and save lives ~rough enhanced transpo~tion safe~. ~ ~ ~O~ ~ For eve~ $~ billion invested in federal highway and ~ansit in~st~ctum, an estimated 47,500 are cmat~. Build Ame~ca Bonds have the potential to create millions of new jobs over a three-year period. ~ G~N~ ~ON~I~ GRO~ ~ For eve~ dollar invested in f~eral kanspo~a~on infras~ctum, an estimated ~5.70 in economic activi~ is 0enerated. Build America Bonds have ~e potential to oenerate over $2~5 billion in economic ac~vi~. ~ IM~ IN~U~R~ = Build America Bonds will 0enerate $50 billion in new transpodation infrastructure fundin~ in the United States. This one-time ~ndin~ oppo~uni~ will empower s~tes and local 9ovemments to complete critical inkas~uc~re projec~ and improve all modes of transpo~a~on includin~ roads, rail, transit, avia~on and ~ter. ~ ~ Life-More ~an 42,000 people lose ~eir lives and nearly 3 million are injured each year in motor vehicle ~ ac~e~, cos~no ~e count~ than $23~ ~ion annually. Inkas~c~m improvements ~ade possible throuoh Build America Bonds will enhance safe~ and have the poten~al to save ~ 2,000 lives each year ~at are lost due to poor road conditions and deterioratin~ bridges, not to mention additional lives saved and accidents prevented due to enhancements across other modes of transpo~atio~. Build America Bonds will raise $50 billion for t~nspo~ation in~astruc~re through federal bonds. This amount will be spent on various transpo~tion project, mostly through state and local agencies. Addi~onal bonds will be invested and used to repay ~e p~ncipal at mature. In lieu of interest, bond holde~ will receive tax craig. The bonds ~11 be available to corporate and individual investo~ for purchase at different d~omina~s, providino all Ame~cans wi~ ~e oppo~ni~ to invest in upgradino Ameri~'s transpo~on in~askucture. The in~nt is to encourage ~e count~ to show its ~nfidence in ~tum as we lay ~e founda~n for a prosperous 2~st centu~. The state or local orant mcipien~ will be requir~ to provide traditional matchin~ ~nds, and the ~ndin~ will be condi~oned on s~te depa~men~ of ~nspo~on upda~n~ ~eir approved cons~c~on materials and technology. More e~cient and ~st-effec~ve materials and me,ods will maximize job crea~on and economic ~ro~h. The ex~c~ c~li~on of suppo~ will include ~e conskuc~on indus,, labor unions, the agricul~ral s~tor, deve~pe~, u~n planne~, bankers, investor, ~e ~ckino indus~ and ~e na~on's ~ovemo~ and mayo~. Them is bipa~san consensus in ~e Senate for increasino ~anspoda~on lundin9 as evidenced by the suppo~ of 79 8enato~ for the ~ent amendment to the ~ 2004 Budget o~emd by Senator Bond to significantly increase transpo~ation funding. MT/WY ASSOCIATION OF NON-PROFIT ORG RAILROAD PASSENGERS U.S. POSTAGE PAID 2110 WINGATE LANE PERMIT NO. 471 BILLINGS, MONTANA 59102 BILLINGS, MONTANA : 406-652-1339 jimabiff~earthlink, net Mayor, City of Laurel Laurel, Mt 59044 THIS EDITION OF THE OFFICIAL NEWS FOR "MT/WY ARP" IS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THEM!! WE NEED MORE LlKE THEM. WE NEED MORE TO PAY DUES, OR BE A SPONSOR, OR FIND THEM FOR US. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE NEWSLETTER. PLEASE HELP!!!! !! LEWIS TREE SERVICE MCCARTNEY-WARF CONSTRUCTION INC ROBERT & KATHERINE 225 SHERMAN P O Box 163 Whitefish, Mt 59937 OF FISHTAIL, MONTANA ROCK SPRINGS, WY 406-862-5449 OR. 862-7646 RAY HUNKINS OF WYOMING 307-382-8675 SUPPORTS OUR PROJECT THE BEANERY BAR & GRILL ACKLEY PAINTING BILLINGS NP DEPOT COMPLEX CHICO HOT SPRING RESORT 2009 So 92 ST W 2314 Montana Ave PRAY, MT 590 Missoula, Mt Billings, Montana 59101 406-333-4933 406-728-2178 406-896-9200 DEPOT ENTERPRISES BUTTE NP DEPOT Janel Madrazo Butte, Montana 59701 406-494-4968 LIST HERE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT